The name Goulceby, like many surnames, is habitational in origin, meaning that the first bearer of the name took it from the place where he lived. In this case, it comes from the name of a town in Lincolnshire called Goulceby. The name of the town evolved from its original form of Colchesbi over 200 years, between the 11th and 13th centuries. The original name meant "farm of Kolkr," an old Scandinavian personal name.

Early Origins of the Goulceby family

The surname Goulceby was first found in Lincolnshire, where the name first appeared in written records in the early 13th century, such as the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire, which list Ralph de Golkesbi as having lived there in 1202.

Early History of the Goulceby family

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Goulceby Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Goldsby, Goulceby, Golkesbi and others.

Early Notables of the Goulceby family (pre 1700)

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Migration of the Goulceby family to the New World and Oceana

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Goulceby or a variant listed above: Richard Goldsby, who arrived in Maryland in 1674; as well as many others to follow.